Alfeed benjamin



(No Model.)

7 A. BENJAMIN. DRESS SUPPORTING DEVICE.

No. 358,372. Patented Feb. 22, 1887.

INVENTOH N. PETERS, Phulo-Lithug lphcr. Washingiun. n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED BE JAMIN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERsEY, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF 'ro EDWARD B NJAMIN, OF sAME PLACE.

DRESS-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,372, dated February 22. 1887.

Application filed August 27, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED BENJAMIN, of

Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dress-Supporting Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichitappertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to springs or reeds for supporting the back portions of ladies dresses; and the object of my invention is to provide a springplate, which may be secured directly to the dress or skirt, so as to support the same in simulation of abustle, and which may be connected directly to the dress, either singly or in numbers, as desired.

To the above purpose my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a plan view of my improved dress or skirt supporter extended. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same in operative position. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same.

In the said drawings, A designates a steel band or rib for supporting the rear portion of an undershirt, said band being designed to be drawninto U shape and preferably covered by woven fabric a, as shown. The two free ends of the band A are each provided with eyelets a", near the edges, and have elastic bands or tapes B secured thereto by being drawn over the ends of the rib or steel spring, and the Serial IIo. 212,014. (No model.)

. binding-clips C then adjusted on the ends of rib or steel spring. The end of the elastic or tape toward the dress is also bound, as shown at c, to prevent it from raveling.

Ordinarily several of the reeds Ashould be used to extend the skirt, and such springbands are of greater or less length, according to their required positions. According to my invention these bands are not secured around the waist of the wearer as heretofore; but the two parts of the elastic band or tape are connected by a buckle, D, in such manner that the elastic band shall extend behind the wearer.

e e designate a series of holes, which are formed upon the bands or reeds, so as to permit the same to be secured directly to the skirt.

By virtue of this construction the dress presents all of the requirements of set and style which are produced by a bustle or hoop-skirt, and theinconveniences of the latter are entirely avoided.

Having'fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with the band or reed having the securing-holes, of the elastic straps or tapes having a buckle for connecting the contiguous ends of said elastic straps, said elastic straps or tapes being secured to the ends of the spring band or reed by binding-clips, substantially as specified.

' In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED BENJAMIN. Witnesses:

JOHN M. RHODABEOK, Tnos. J. A. MONAGHAM. 

